Today, the Virgin Islands celebrate their 100th Transition day. Norway celebrated the 200th anniversary for a similar liberation in 2014. The relation to the Virgin Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Faroe islands was lost as a cost for the liberation, though. Yet, we all became vassal-states when Tsar Pyotr declared Russia an empire and started a massive warfare in Norden - 300 years ago. Consequently, the Scandinavian support to the Caribbean was withdrawn and there were no real compensations in the extended Dutch mandate. Still, all the cultures of the Virgin Islands suffered from the following piracy, riots, anarchy and dysfunctionality. However, that might be changed to the better – if we really want to.
This extra-ordinary blog might seem strange in the theme ‘The 5th Pyramid’. Still, there are bonds that link the past, present and future events together. The present Transatlantic CdE Games originated with the 500 years old rivalries for the new and promised land – the Americas. The new Empire’s capital, Saint Petersburg (former Leningrad), was also called ‘the window to Europe’. The Virgin Islands were probably the outposts and binoculars to the rest of the west, the Americas. However, the intention of this blog is to re-evaluate the Scandinavian-Caribbean relations after the CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) and face the opportunities we have for this century. Nevertheless – as usual – the blog is related to the UU themes ‘The 5th Pyramid’ as well as a previous theme called ‘Tordenskjold’s Pirates’.
‘Tordenskjold’s Pirater’ (Thundershield’s Pirates) was the name of a blog Theme with focus on the Virgin Islands (UU 2016.jan.08 - UU 2016.mars.11). It was based on the story that the legendary Danish/Norwegian naval ‘hero’ actually sailed to the Virgin Islands in the early 1700 – as a 15 years old ships boy. He returned 20 years later and must have been highly influenced by the ‘Golden age of Pirates’ in the Caribbean. He certainly acted like one in the Danish Royal Marine. Reading and writing about the Caribbean-Scandinavian cultures became rather intriguing. It also became clear that the Scandinavians still are rather influenced by it - beyond that the fatigue cold-war history books propagate. The concluding blog presents some summaries that should be considered points of interest based on rediscovered information in Wikipedia:
- “These 8 Tordenskjold Pirates were made to inspire exploring events and cultures in a milestone of Nordic History, namely the shift from Caribbean cultures to the Russian (Great) Nordic war. The eight Captains in this UU Theme represents: Mango, Dane-Nor Caribbean culture. Banana, thralldom. Coca, narcotics. Passion, piratesses. Guanabana, UnderConcience Drive. Coco, OverConcience Believes. Lychee, chance and gamble. Karsk, Norwegian relations. Finally, Captain T is a hovering omnipresence like the Flying Dutchman tactic of Tordenskjold (UU 2016.mars.04).” (Each blog also provides recipes on drinks based on the ingrediencies and Rum.)
- “The Russian Great Nordic War was just another war against Sweden to regain the dominance of the Baltic region about 1700. Dan-Nor forces were withdrawn from the Caribbean to fight Sweden and a Nordic re-union. The withdrawal caused the Virgin Islands to decay into pirates’ haven. Tsar Peter the Great moved the Russian capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg by the Baltic Sea and declared Russia an empire. Tordenskjold was a Dan-Nor naval officer with Caribbean naval experiences that became legendary in privateer-like attacks towards Sweden. However, he was humiliated and executed in a domestic political Game. (UU 2016.mars.04).”
- “Meanwhile, Spain, England and France fought for dominance in America, with the Mexican Gulf as ports. The Coup d’ Etat in France with a foreign marionette, soon involved most European nations in domestic wars. They had to withdraw their forces to fight the privateer-like Napoleon. (UU 2016.Feb.26) Finally, Roma3 (Moscow) was burned like Roma1 (Rome) and the Dane fleet confiscated. Europe made the union ‘The Congress of Vienna’ that secured 100 years of peace and prosper in Europe (UU 2014.okt.31). Europe helped the Norwegians to sovereignty and was re-constituted in 1814, - but without its former Island, Greenland, Faroe Islands and Virgin Islands, though.”
- “Meanwhile, the confederal union of American states was symbolized with a flag in 1777 and soon constituted. Still, there was massive thrall trade from Africa, - also via the Virgin Islands. Some were trained as soldiers and probably intended for warfare in America. Slavery of Africans continued until 1848 even though abolished by European law in 1803. American federalists added a constitutional amendment that provided the 4 million African American citizenship in 1865. Legally, the federalists’ State union confiscated the confederalists’ private properties (thralls) as warfare permits. That tactic also caused CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) to confederalists (UU 2015.juli.03). This might be the main reason why President Lincoln was publicly executed, - like in a CdE Game.”
- “Denmark declared war against Germany in 1864, which is historically considered extremely unwise and self-destructive. (UU 2014.mai.23). The argument was that it could cause UK to declare war on Germany, despite the European Treaties. However, the real reason might be that the royal branch of Frederick IV was replaced in a CdE/Throne with the more Russian loyal Christian IX (1863 - 1906). Napoleon proved that international battlefields are effective means for masse-execution of loyalists to the previous regime, - just like the guillotine was effective for mass-execution of their heads.”
“An epilogue to this theme ‘Tordenskjold Pirates’ is that it is not personal at all. It is rather organizational - based on the GUR (Good/Useful/Right) ethics, the 3^3 analysis, 5D scenarios and related Games like BGGG (Bad Guy Good Guy) and LYAHF (Let’s You And Him Fight). Besides, the most important word of all, LifeQuality, do also apply for organizations, nations and empires. Yet, the theme’s complexity and ulteriority cannot provide clear conclusions, but rather indicate relations to previous conclusions for sound mental health, as described in UU 2015.mars.13. It hopefully inspires to further explorations, though.”
Sufferings, unjust and blame are recurring issues for peoples and nations being abused in the inter-imperial warfare. We all suffered greatly – Scandinavians did too. We were all slaves and thralls somehow, which the following warfare towards ‘the West’ certainly proves. We had to break free from the insanity – even at the cost of losing all provinces. Now, we are all liberated, - free from the Empire’s self-destructive ‘Jante’ culture. Still, for fairness sake, no-one should be blamed or ashamed for something someone might have done to others - centuries ago. Such blame-games causes ‘negative spirals’. A positive approach is to make a better future together in mutual respect. Those who truly want to end slavery, though, should focus on the slave-culture that still flourish in Africa. The extorting Arabian business is - and always have been, the reason for the inhuman abuses. It is still, 200 years after the ‘Western’ abolished the slavery and started to fight back. Now, Norway has ratified a ‘Human Rights Law’ and linked it the human rights declaration in the Constitutional law. However, we still fight mentally the paralyzing legacy of the ‘Jante’ culture – the collective mass-psychosis of ‘I am not-OK – You are not-OK’ - that was made to make and maintain dysfunctionality to subordinates. Nordic cultures still suffer from it - and still fights it. Yet, it is vital to move on past the dysfunctional effects of the past, in order to form a well functional culture for this century.
The prosperities are as great as ever the Virgin Islands and Scandinavia. There are great potentials and synergy effects in a re-establish associations culturally, commercially and socially. After all, neither Norway or Denmark are what they were 200 years ago. It was probably harder to run a business then, - than it is today. In fact, Norway was became very poor nation 200 year ago – after the liberation. Now, it ranks very high on measures like the Good County Index (GCI) (UU 2014.dec.05) and tops the World Happiness Report (extra UU2). We did manage to liberate our nations and our minds. Surely, the Virgin Islands can prosper too. A mutual understanding of history and potentials might help.
This brief summary is based on Wikipedia and might set some other points of view:“The Danes annexed the uninhabited islands St. Thomas and St. John in late 1600 and later bought St. Croix from France. Soon after, the King of Denmark-Norway assumed direct control of the three islands. Britain occupied the islands twice during the Napoleonic Wars, though. The intention of colonization was to utilize the profitable triangular trade, involving firearms, manufactured goods and labor, including the Arabian slave markets in Africa. The ‘Western’ abolishment of slavery caused the South American economy to collapse, including the Virgin Islands. A sale of the unprofitable islands was proposed in the Dane parliament in 1852. The islands were sold as a consequence of WW1 for 25 million dollars to the US in 1917.” “The general conditions improved after WW2 with increased tourism after the blockade of the neighbor island Cuba. Industry boosted in Saint Croix due to the Harvey Aluminum Company and the Hess Oil Refinery.” “Today, it is a modern American society with 110,000 inhabitants, only half of whom are native born Virgin Islanders. They elect their own governor and has a local senate and a delegate to Congress.” “There is a Scandinavian heritage of old buildings such as forts, churches, town houses, sugar mills and plantation houses that are still standing in good shape. Some streets and inhabitants still have Scandinavian names. Both the Danes and the Norwegians have certainly cultural heritages in the Caribbean.”
Still, the Virgin Island struggles now. “In mid-February 2017, the Virgin Islands was facing a financial crisis due to a high debt level of $2 billion and a structural budget deficit of $110 million. The government introduced a ‘sin tax’ bill that would introduce or increase taxes on rum, beer, tobacco products and sugary drinks, as well as internet purchases and timeshare unit owners. The governor issued an order that restricted the use of government-owned properties, suspended wage negotiations, froze non-essential travel compensations and suspended wage increases.” A main reason to the recent economic crisis is that: “Hovensa Refinery had to pay a $5.3 million penalty for Clean Air Act violations in 2011. Consequently, the refinery was closed.” The Virgin Islands do not gain as much from the cruise tourism anymore, since the ships are self-provided and the tourist do not spend much money on the Islands. Also, there is a proposal to substitute the previous refinery with an offshore natural gas pipeline to connect Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Besides, Cuba is now re-open and attracts more cruise ships and tourists. Alarming though, is that the 300 years old contained Jante-culture might be released like a pandemic in the Caribbean again.
The Scandinavian nations developed their industries and societies in the previous century. That can be prosperous for both the Virgin Islands and Scandinavia nations as well. Actually, the 3 Scandinavian cultures are rather different in several ways. Norway is mostly to the primary sector (agriculture at sea), Sweden is mostly to the secondary (industry) and the Danes to the mainly to the third (services). There are assumingly differences between Thomas, John and Croix too. Anyways, a Caribbean-Scandinavian collaborations could be realized with; tourism, air lines, shipping, cruises, oil industry, farming, sea farming, aqua culture, wind- and wave-power, public services etc. Personally, I would like to see a TV series ‘Thundershields’ Pirates’ – like the TV series ‘Black Sails’ – more historical and less violent, though.
These proposals are certainly not about buying back the Virgin Islands. Still, it would be interesting to know if there are some option clauses in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies. However, being sovereign and developed via the United Nations, Norway has now the international responsibility of regions of Svalbard (Artic) and Queen Maud’s Land (Antarctic). These international regions are open for multi-national scientific organizations. The possibilities of international enterprising at the Virgin Islands are even more prosperous. Let’s start talking.
Links
http://viconsortium.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Islands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_West_Indies
http://www.virgin-islands-history.dk/eng/vi_hist.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_the_Danish_West_Indies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_Council
Music:
A-ha is a Norwegian band that rose to fame during the mid-1980s and continued global success in the 1990s and 2000s. Their debut album peaked at number one in Norway, number 2 in the UK, and number 15 on the US Billboard album chart; yielded two international number-one singles. ‘Take On Me’ and ‘The Sun Always Shines on TV’; and earned the band a Grammy Award nomination as Best New Artist. They took a break when their 5th studio album failed a commercial. Following a performance at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 1998, A-ha returned to the studio and recorded their 6th album. Their 9th album returned the band to the UK top 5. The band split after a worldwide tour in 2010. A-ha officially announced its participation at Rock In Rio 2015 to celebrated 30 years for both the band and the event. Their 10th studio album was released in 2015.
A-ha sold more than 100 million records worldwide. In less than a year the band earned an estimated 500 million Norwegian Kroner from concert tickets, merchandise and the release of a greatest hits album, making them one of the 40–50 largest grossing bands in the world. They shocked the international entertainment press by drawing an audience of 198,000 at Rio's Maracanã Stadium.
A-Ha - Take On Me (Kygo Remix) + Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIK81cpOXYg
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/aha/takeonme.html
A Ha Rock In Rio II Maracanã Stadium,Rio De Janeiro,Brazil 26 01 1991 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAxSA2mgCCw
KYGO (Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll) is a Norwegian DJ, record producer, songwriter and musician. He garnered international attention with his remix of the track "I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran. He got 50-400 million plays on several songs like the single ‘Firestone’ and was on several international charts. His debut studio album is called Cloud Nine. Kygo made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics, when he became the first house music producer to perform at an Olympics closing ceremony. Carry Me | Kygo feat. Julia Michaels Live at the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dmhzR-jUcc
Here are some links to the celebration, with event sites, music and live-cam.
Anyone can take part somehow now.
Have a Happy Transition Day - enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAu3v5LOKmg
Virgin Islands Music
Virgin Islands roots and culture mix part 1 – mixed by Flowin Vibes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58TWmkaXL4Q
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_Day
https://www.facebook.com/Christiansted-Harbor-Cam-204278206383801/
http://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/transfer-day-centennial-commemoration/
http://my-stcroix.com/transfer-day-in-the-virgin-islands/
Extra UU2 – 2017 World Happiness Report
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) was commissioned by UN Secretary-General in 2012 to mobilize scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector to support practical problem solving for sustainable development at local, national, and global scales. The SDSN operates national and regional networks of knowledge institutions, solution-focused thematic networks, and is building SDG Academy, an online university for sustainable development. The World Happiness Report was written by a group of independent experts acting in their personal capacities. Any views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization, agency or program of the United Nations. However, the UN report says that:
”Norway has jumped from 4th place in 2016 to 1st place this year, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland in a tightly packed bunch. All of the top four countries rank highly on all the main factors found to support happiness: caring, freedom, generosity, honesty, health, income and good governance. Their averages are so close that small changes can re-order the rankings from year to year. Norway moves to the top of the ranking despite weaker oil prices. It is sometimes said that Norway achieves and maintains its high happiness not because of its oil wealth, but in spite of it. By choosing to produce its oil slowly, and investing the proceeds for the future rather than spending them in the present, Norway has insulated itself from the boom and bust cycle of many other resource-rich economies. To do this successfully requires high levels of mutual trust, shared purpose, generosity and good governance, all factors that help to keep Norway and other top countries where they are in the happiness rankings.
All of the other countries in the top ten also have high values in all six of the key variables used to explain happiness differences among countries and through time – income, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on in times of trouble, generosity, freedom and trust, with the latter measured by the absence of corruption in business and government. Here too there has been some shuffling of ranks among closely grouped countries, with this year’s rankings placing Finland in 5thplace, followed by the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia and Sweden tied for the 9th position, having the same 2014-2016 score to three decimals.”
2017 World Happiness Report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se2gfFKp1Iw
http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/